Microsoft Ceases Production of Xbox 360, Servers Will Stay Online

Microsoft will no longer produce the Xbox 360, but will keep the servers online, at least for now.

The Xbox 360 will no longer be produced, Microsoft announced today. In the official statement, Head of Xbox Phil Spencer said, "Xbox 360 means a lot to everyone in Microsoft. And while we've had an amazing run, the realities of manufacturing a product over a decade old are starting to creep up on us. Which is why we have made the decision to stop manufacturing new Xbox 360 consoles."

You'll still be able to find the console in stores, as the existing inventory will continue to be sold, Spencer confirmed. "We will continue to sell existing inventory of Xbox 360 consoles, with availability varying by country."

The statement also confirmed that Microsoft will continue supporting the Xbox Live servers, along with its attendant services, including group chat and Games with Gold. The company will also maintain support for the hardware through its support department.

The Xbox 360 has been around since November of 2005, when it launched in North America. The console took the gaming world by storm, cementing Microsoft's place as a major player in the console industry. You can read the full statement over at Xbox Wire.